Compressor Housing Fitting for Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compressors that can be selectively coupled or decoupled to a drive element often experience leaks and require additional installation space due to material distortion during assembly and manufacturing tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A housing design with a fitting that forms a fluid connection to an external pressure medium line, featuring a headless internal driving profile or a plug-in connection element with sealing material, which minimizes deformation and installation space by compensating for manufacturing inaccuracies through elastic deformation and sealing, preventing leaks and material distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional assembly methods are used with standard fittings, then manufacturing is simpler, but material distortion and leaks occur due to manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting incorporates an elastic element that changes its physical state from deformed during assembly to relaxed during operation. During assembly, the elastic element is compressed to enable insertion despite tolerance variations. Once assembled, it expands to create a tight seal, thus adapting the physical parameters of the fitting to resolve the contradiction between ease of assembly and tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic element serves as a pre-prepared compensatory mechanism that absorbs the harmful effects of manufacturing tolerances before they can cause leaks. By incorporating this elastic cushioning element in advance, the design anticipates and prevents the problem of material distortion and leakage that would otherwise occur with rigid conventional fittings.
2Strength
If excessive force is applied during assembly to ensure tight connection, then connection strength improves, but material distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element acts as an intermediary between the fitting components, allowing connection to be achieved without excessive force. Instead of relying on high assembly forces to ensure tightness, the elastic element mediates the connection by providing continuous pressure through its elastic recovery, thus achieving strong connections without distorting the housing material.
3Reliability
If additional sealing components are added to prevent leaks, then tightness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sealing function is merged directly into the fitting structure itself rather than being a separate component. The elastic element is integrated as an inherent part of the fitting, combining the structural and sealing functions into a single unified component. This reduces device complexity while maintaining tightness, as the sealing capability is built-in rather than added through additional separate sealing components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures better tightness and reduced material distortion, minimizing additional installation space required, while maintaining effective torque transmission and pressure medium supply without excessive force application, thus enhancing the compressor's reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
compensating for manufacturing inaccuracies through elastic deformation and sealing
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a housing (4), having a housing main body (6) which has an opening (12) extending in an axial direction and which has at least one cylinder chamber (18) extending in a radial direction through the housing main body (6) as far as the opening (12), wherein the opening (12) is open at a first axial end (14) of the housing main body (6), and a housing flange (8) which is arranged at the first axial end (14) of the housing main body (6), wherein a piston (44) is inserted in axially displaceable fashion in the housing flange (8) such that, between the housing flange (8) and the piston (44), there is formed a pressure space (52) which can be charged with pressure by means of a pressure medium and which serves for the axial displacement of the piston (44), wherein the pressure space (52) is connected to a feed opening (74) via which the pressure medium can be fed, wherein the feed opening (74) is fluidically connected to a fitting (8) which is arranged in the housing flange (8) and the housing main body (6) and which is connectable to an external pressure medium line, wherein the fitting (58) is designed such that an offset between the housing main body (6) and the housing flange (8) owing to manufacturing tolerances can be compensated without impairing the sealing action. The invention also relates to a compressor having a housing according to the invention, and to a compressor unit.